Designing for sound reduction
Protecting a building's environment from increasing noise levels is a critical consideration when specifying glazing materials for new and renovated structures. Sound transmission into building spaces generally happens through the weakest element—usually glazing constructed with ordinary window glass. Laminated glazing made with Saflex® or Vanceva® color interlayer offers a more effective solution for sound reduction. Modern design trends emphasize a liberal use of glazing, yet building owners still demand the highest level of environmental comfort. The sound-damping performance of Saflex interlayer clearly provides the architect and specifier a superior alternative for addressing these complex demands.
Reducing sound with laminated glass in exterior applications
Isolation of interior building spaces from exterior sound is important if building spaces are to properly serve their intended purpose. Nearly all buildings have at least some internal areas that could be adversely affected by high levels of sound transmitted from outside the building, but some applications require more sound reduction than others:
- Hotel and restaurant industry
- Airports and surrounding structures
- Educational facilities
- Industrial complexes
- Retrofits with the installation of an acoustical sash
Laminated glass is formed by permanently bonding two pieces of glass (of any type) to a tough, resilient, protective interlayer through a high-temperature and pressure process. The benefit of laminated glass is even when the glass is broken due to sufficient impact, the pieces of glass tend to adhere to the interlayer.
Reducing sound with laminated glass in interior applications
Interior construction components serve as barriers to sound from sources outside the room. Items such as carpeting, wall coverings and furniture all affect noise absorption. A high level of noise absorption within a room can eliminate the “cocktail party effect,” wherein multiple voices, noise sources and reverberations occur in an occupied space. A room with high noise absorption will yield an environment that is conducive to improved hearing and higher productivity.
Designers and specifiers can significantly dampen noise by specifying laminated glass made with Saflex or Vanceva interlayer in the following room construction components:
- Walls, partitions and room dividers
- Window and door glazing
- Flooring
- Elevators
- Bath enclosures
Laminated glazing made with Saflex interlayer makes an excellent sound barrier because the interlayer materials are designed to have inherently high sound-reduction characteristics. When laminated glass is used in air-spaced or insulating glass configurations, the sound reduction benefits are even greater. Sound damping with laminated glazing using Saflex interlayer also offers several advantages over increased thicknesses of ordinary monolithic glass, such as less weight and lower cost.
Laminated glazing has additional benefits
In addition to acoustic benefits, Saflex interlayer provides all the other benefits inherent to laminated glass, including:
For more information on Saflex interlayer, contact us.
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